Letter to Mr. Burnside re: pro-Soviet rally

May 5, 2016

Dear Mr. Burnside:

it has come to my attention that a large pro-Soviet rally is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 8, at Earl Bales Park. I am shocked and astonished that such a group is able to obtain a permit in the City of the Toronto. I write to ask you to act with urgency and cancel this permit.

A similar rally was held last year. It featured many Soviet flags, as well as the Soviet era flags of the countries the Soviet Union occupied as a result of World War II. Last year, there were also calls to renew the occupation of these countries, which include the Baltic states: Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, as well as Ukraine and many others. These symbols and this speech is entirely unacceptable and is an affront to the families of Canadian who endured years of terror.

The iron curtain that descended on Europe at the end of the War was catastrophic for millions of people. The Soviet Union was responsible for the killing of million of people and oppression for many more. The red flags are a symbol of tyranny and should not on display in our City. Nor should the rhetoric of the Soviet Union or the present regime of Vladimir Putin be given a public podium.